Ball State University Athletics
Gymnastics Adds Two More For 2022-23 Season
January 25, 2022 | Gymnastics
MUNCIE, Ind. - - Ball State gymnastics head coach Joanna Saleem is excited to welcome two more standout student-athletes to the latest recruiting class, bringing the total number of additions for the 2022 fall semester to eight.
Dilynn Blair (Palm Harbor, Florida/Palm Harbor University) and Leah White (Las Vegas, Nev./Odyssey Charter School) will by joining Kenna Geibel (Garnet Valley, Pa./Garnet Valley), Aislyn LaBadie (Hatfield, Penn./North Penn), Zoe Middleton (Smyrna, Del./Smyrna), Olivia Rickle (Findlay, Ohio/Liberty-Benton), Alauna Simms (Ooltewah, Tenn./Boyd Bychanan), and Karah Vargo (Fort Myers, Fla./Lee Virtual School) who were previously announced.
"We are excited to welcome Dilynn and Leah to the Cardinal family," Saleem said. "Their personalities will assist in a smooth transition to college as they bring high level gymnastics and a focused work ethic in the gym and the classroom."
The previous six members were announced on Nov. 12, 2021, and their info can be found by CLICKING HERE.
Name Hometown (High School) Club
Dilynn Blair Palm Harbor, Florida (Palm Harbor University) LaFleur's Gymnastics Largo
Saleem on Blair: Dilynn has a dynamic vault that will increase the level of difficulty in our vault line-up. Her attention to detail and expressive presentation will be fun to watch on floor. This young lady is always striving to get better and really enjoys being a student of the sport of gymnastics. She is just as strong in the classroom. Despite her sweet disposition, I see her being a fierce competitor that will raise the level of expectation.
Career Highlights: Crowned the 2021 Acro for Autism Level 10 all-around champion with a score of 36.775 … earned the honor after winning vault (9.375), bars (8.750), and beam (9.500), while placing second on floor (9.150) ... competed in the 2021 Region 8 Level 10 Championship finishing ninth in the all-around (37.175) by placing second on vault (9.600) and beam (9.450), as well as sixth on bars (9.300) … won the vault competition at the 2019 Level 9 Eastern Championships with a score of 9.225 … took second in the all-around (37.450) at the 2019 USA Gymnastics Region 8 Level 9 Regional Championships, while also earning top five finishes on vault (third at 9.525), bars (fourth at 9.450), and beam (fifth at 9.150) … named to America's Top 100 on vault twice in 2019, with scores of 9.750 (T-65th) and 9.725 (T-86th) … owns career-best level 10 scores of 37.575 in the all-around, 9.725 on vault, 9.300 on bars, 9.500 on beam, and 9.475 on floor.
Why Ball State: I loved the campus and the size of it. All the girls were so sweet and welcoming.
Name Hometown (High School) Club
Leah White Las Vegas, Nev. (Odyssey Charter School) Academy of Gymnastics
Saleem on White: Leah is an outstanding all-around gymnast. She will bring in high level skills on all four events. I see her making an immediate impact in all four line-ups. I really enjoy her levelheaded approach to training. She has that same calm and determined demeanor in how she approaches life. She has wisdom beyond her years and doesn't seem to get phased by adversity. I fell in love with her calm confidence and easy-going personality.
Career Highlights: Won the vault competition at the 2019 Region 1 Level 9 Regional Championships with a score of 9.825 which tied as the 17th best score on America's Top 100 Level 9 Vault Scores in 2019 … also tied for 86th with a pair of 9.725 scores … won the vault championship with a score of 9.600 at the 2019 Nevada State Championships (Level 9) … also tied for first on floor (9.400), placed second on beam (9.500) and took seventh in the all-around (36.200) at the state championship meet … took top billing in both the all-around (37.975) and the beam (9.525), while placing second on vault (9.650) at the 2018 Nevada State Championships (Level 8) … her all-around score of 38.450 and vault score of 9.700 at the 2018 Region 1 Level 8 Championships placed 61st and 65th, respectively, respectively on American's Top 100 Level 8 scores, and both earned fourth-place finishes at the event … owns career-best level 10 scores of 9.825 on vault, 9.025 on bars, 9.100 on beam, 9.100 on floor, and 37.025 in the all-around.
Why Ball State: Ball State has a great gymnastics program. The school has a lot to offer with academics.
Dilynn Blair (Palm Harbor, Florida/Palm Harbor University) and Leah White (Las Vegas, Nev./Odyssey Charter School) will by joining Kenna Geibel (Garnet Valley, Pa./Garnet Valley), Aislyn LaBadie (Hatfield, Penn./North Penn), Zoe Middleton (Smyrna, Del./Smyrna), Olivia Rickle (Findlay, Ohio/Liberty-Benton), Alauna Simms (Ooltewah, Tenn./Boyd Bychanan), and Karah Vargo (Fort Myers, Fla./Lee Virtual School) who were previously announced.
"We are excited to welcome Dilynn and Leah to the Cardinal family," Saleem said. "Their personalities will assist in a smooth transition to college as they bring high level gymnastics and a focused work ethic in the gym and the classroom."
The previous six members were announced on Nov. 12, 2021, and their info can be found by CLICKING HERE.
Name Hometown (High School) Club
Dilynn Blair Palm Harbor, Florida (Palm Harbor University) LaFleur's Gymnastics Largo
Saleem on Blair: Dilynn has a dynamic vault that will increase the level of difficulty in our vault line-up. Her attention to detail and expressive presentation will be fun to watch on floor. This young lady is always striving to get better and really enjoys being a student of the sport of gymnastics. She is just as strong in the classroom. Despite her sweet disposition, I see her being a fierce competitor that will raise the level of expectation.
Career Highlights: Crowned the 2021 Acro for Autism Level 10 all-around champion with a score of 36.775 … earned the honor after winning vault (9.375), bars (8.750), and beam (9.500), while placing second on floor (9.150) ... competed in the 2021 Region 8 Level 10 Championship finishing ninth in the all-around (37.175) by placing second on vault (9.600) and beam (9.450), as well as sixth on bars (9.300) … won the vault competition at the 2019 Level 9 Eastern Championships with a score of 9.225 … took second in the all-around (37.450) at the 2019 USA Gymnastics Region 8 Level 9 Regional Championships, while also earning top five finishes on vault (third at 9.525), bars (fourth at 9.450), and beam (fifth at 9.150) … named to America's Top 100 on vault twice in 2019, with scores of 9.750 (T-65th) and 9.725 (T-86th) … owns career-best level 10 scores of 37.575 in the all-around, 9.725 on vault, 9.300 on bars, 9.500 on beam, and 9.475 on floor.
Why Ball State: I loved the campus and the size of it. All the girls were so sweet and welcoming.
Name Hometown (High School) Club
Leah White Las Vegas, Nev. (Odyssey Charter School) Academy of Gymnastics
Saleem on White: Leah is an outstanding all-around gymnast. She will bring in high level skills on all four events. I see her making an immediate impact in all four line-ups. I really enjoy her levelheaded approach to training. She has that same calm and determined demeanor in how she approaches life. She has wisdom beyond her years and doesn't seem to get phased by adversity. I fell in love with her calm confidence and easy-going personality.
Career Highlights: Won the vault competition at the 2019 Region 1 Level 9 Regional Championships with a score of 9.825 which tied as the 17th best score on America's Top 100 Level 9 Vault Scores in 2019 … also tied for 86th with a pair of 9.725 scores … won the vault championship with a score of 9.600 at the 2019 Nevada State Championships (Level 9) … also tied for first on floor (9.400), placed second on beam (9.500) and took seventh in the all-around (36.200) at the state championship meet … took top billing in both the all-around (37.975) and the beam (9.525), while placing second on vault (9.650) at the 2018 Nevada State Championships (Level 8) … her all-around score of 38.450 and vault score of 9.700 at the 2018 Region 1 Level 8 Championships placed 61st and 65th, respectively, respectively on American's Top 100 Level 8 scores, and both earned fourth-place finishes at the event … owns career-best level 10 scores of 9.825 on vault, 9.025 on bars, 9.100 on beam, 9.100 on floor, and 37.025 in the all-around.
Why Ball State: Ball State has a great gymnastics program. The school has a lot to offer with academics.
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